In the first ascent finish of the 106th edition of the ‘Corsa Rosa’, the Italian Davide Bais (Eolo-Kometa) took victory in the seventh round of the 2023 Giro d’Italia after crowning the breakaway of the day, on a day of high mountain with three ports, two of the second category and one of the first category.
The segment that started from Capua and ended in Gran Sasso d’Italia covered 218 kilometers with great mountainous difficulties, where the Colombians Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain – Victorious) and Einer Rubio (Movistar) entered with the favorites. While Rigoberto Urán (EF Education-EasyPost) gave up 24 seconds with the leader Andreas Leknessund (Team DSM).
As in most days of this Giro, the breakaway attempts did not wait and from the first kilometers there were several daring who tried to set a dizzying pace from the start in Capua.
Simone Petilli, Davide Bais, Kamil Vacek and Heluk Mulubrhan were the runners who fled after eight kilometers. The four riders came to have a 10-minute advantage over the peloton at various times, a difference that was marked almost until the ascent to Gran Sasso D’Italia.
In the intermediate sprint, it was Davide Bais who took the 12 points of a classification that is led by Jonathan Milan. In the Roccaraso, Bussi sul Tirino and Calascio ports, the Italian cyclist was also the winner. Without a doubt, the most combative of the day.
Heluk Mulubrhan was the only one in the breakaway who was left with almost 80 kilometers to go and was caught by the peloton, which had a slower pace than expected, and spent a good part of the day commanded by the DSM, team leader Andreas Leknessund.
On the ascent to the Gran Sasso D’Italia, the gap between the breakaway and the peloton began to diminish. The DSM began to press because Andreas Leknessund was losing the ‘Maglia Rosa’. However, over the 200 kilometers of the route, the leader’s squad managed to control the time and safeguard the Norwegian.
Ineos had problems with Geraint Thomas, whose chain got tangled, and also Ben Swift, who had a puncture on the ascent. Despite this, the British squad managed to stay in the peloton, which in the last 20 km began to be led by DSM, AG2R and Soudal Quick-Step, Remco Evenepoel’s team.
The peloton was never able to catch up with the breakaway and the stage win was between Simone Petilli, Davide Bais and Kamil Vacek. The first two attacked at the start of the last ascent and tried to let go of Vacek, who was beginning to suffer in the last four kilometres, the most difficult of the day. However, the Czech rider gave them battle until the end.
And the appearance of a Colombian in the mountains could not be missing. Also on the final ascent the peloton began to move, and the pace was set by Einer Rubio, from Movistar, who took the lead and stepped on the accelerator.
In the end the victory stayed at home. Davide Bais, who was left with all the possible victories of the day, closed his performance with a flourish and triumphed in the seventh stage of the Giro d’Italia after an attack with 150 meters to go.
Remco Evenepoel wanted to show his teeth and in the final stretch he was left with fourth place of the day, behind him came Primoz Roglic, another of the favorites to win the Giro. The Colombians Santiago Buitrago, Einer Rubio and Rigoberto Urán arrived with the peloton. Andreas Leknessund remains the leader in the individual overall.
This Saturday, May 13, the eighth fraction of the Italian round will take place, which will take the riders from Terni to Fossombrone over 207 kilometers with a finish on undulating terrain that includes the mountainous passes of I Cappuccini (2.8 km at 7.8% ), Monte delle Cesane (7.8 km at 6.5%) and again I Cappuccini (2.8 km at 7.9%).
Source: